Chapter 5

Arjuna. Yet, Krishna! at the one time thou dost laud Surcease of works, and, at another time, Service through work. Of these twain plainly tell Which is the better way?

Arjuna. Yet, Krishna! At one time you praise Giving up work, and at another, Serving through work. Tell me clearly: Which of these two paths is better?

Krishna. To cease from works Is well, and to do works in holiness Is well; and both conduct to bliss supreme; But of these twain the better way is his Who working piously refraineth not.

Krishna. Giving up work is good. Doing work with devotion is also good. Both lead to the highest bliss. But the better path is to keep working with devotion rather than give up work.

That is the true Renouncer, firm and fixed, Who--seeking nought, rejecting nought--dwells proof Against the "opposites."⁸ O valiant Prince! In doing, such breaks lightly from all deed: 'Tis the new scholar talks as they were two, This Sankhya and this Yoga: wise men know Who husbands one plucks golden fruit of both! The region of high rest which Sankhyans reach Yogins attain. Who sees these twain as one Sees with clear eyes! Yet such abstraction, Chief! Is hard to win without much holiness. Whoso is fixed in holiness, self-ruled, Pure-hearted, lord of senses and of self, Lost in the common life of all which lives-- A "Yogayukt"--he is a Saint who wends Straightway to Brahm. Such an one is not touched By taint of deeds. "Nought of myself I do!" Thus will he think-who holds the truth of truths-- In seeing, hearing, touching, smelling; when He eats, or goes, or breathes; slumbers or talks, Holds fast or loosens, opes his eyes or shuts; Always assured "This is the sense-world plays With senses."He that acts in thought of Brahm, Detaching end from act, with act content, The world of sense can no more stain his soul Than waters mar th' enamelled lotus-leaf. With life, with heart, with mind,-nay, with the help Of all five senses--letting selfhood go-- Yogins toil ever towards their souls' release. Such votaries, renouncing fruit of deeds, Gain endless peace: the unvowed, the passion-bound, Seeking a fruit from works, are fastened down. The embodied sage, withdrawn within his soul, At every act sits godlike in "the town Which hath nine gateways,"⁹ neither doing aught Nor causing any deed. This world's Lord makes Neither the work, nor passion for the work, Nor lust for fruit of work; the man's own self Pushes to these! The Master of this World Takes on himself the good or evil deeds Of no man--dwelling beyond! Mankind errs here By folly, darkening knowledge. But, for whom That darkness of the soul is chased by light, Splendid and clear shines manifest the Truth As if a Sun of Wisdom sprang to shed Its beams of dawn. Him meditating still, Him seeking, with Him blended, stayed on Him, The souls illuminated take that road Which hath no turning back--their sins flung off By strength of faith. [Who will may have this Light; Who hath it sees.] To him who wisely sees, The Brahman with his scrolls and sanctities, The cow, the elephant, the unclean dog, The Outcast gorging dog's meat, are all one.

The true Renouncer stands firm and steady. He seeks nothing, rejects nothing, and remains untouched By the "opposites."⁸ O brave Prince! Even while acting, he easily escapes the bonds of action. Only beginners speak as though these were separate paths, This Sankhya and this Yoga. The wise know That whoever cultivates one reaps the rich rewards of both! The place of deep peace that Sankhyans reach Yogins also reach. Whoever sees these two paths as one Sees clearly! Yet such detachment, Chief, Is hard to achieve without great holiness. Whoever is rooted in holiness, self-controlled, Pure in heart, master of his senses and himself, And absorbed in the shared life of all living beings, Is a "Yogayukt", a Saint who goes Straight to Brahm. Such a person is untouched By the stain of deeds. "I do nothing myself!" So thinks the person who knows the deepest truth, While seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, Eating, walking, breathing, sleeping, talking, Holding or releasing, opening or closing his eyes. He is always certain: "The world of the senses interacts With the senses." Whoever acts with Brahm in mind, Without attachment to results, content with the action itself, Cannot have his soul stained by the world of the senses, Just as water cannot stain the glossy lotus leaf. With their lives, hearts, and minds, and even With all five senses, Yogins let go of selfhood And work constantly toward their souls' release. These devoted followers give up the rewards of action And gain endless peace. Those without such devotion, bound by passion, Seek rewards from their work and remain bound. The embodied sage withdraws into his soul. Through every action, he sits like a god in "the town With nine gateways,"⁹ neither acting Nor causing any action. This world's Lord creates Neither work, nor the urge to work, Nor desire for its rewards. A person's own self Drives these things! The Master of this World Takes upon himself no person's good or evil deeds. He remains beyond them! People are mistaken about this Because folly clouds their knowledge. But when Light drives away the darkness of the soul, The Truth appears, shining brilliantly and clearly, As if a Sun of Wisdom had risen to cast Its dawn light. Those who keep meditating on him, Seeking him, united with him, and grounded in him, Are enlightened souls who take the road From which there is no return. Their sins are cast off Through the strength of faith. [Whoever wishes may have this Light. Whoever has this Light sees.] To the person who sees wisely, The Brahman with his sacred writings and holy practices, The cow, the elephant, the unclean dog, And the Outcast gorging on dog meat are all one.

The world is overcome--aye! even here! By such as fix their faith on Unity. The sinless Brahma dwells in Unity, And they in Brahma. Be not over-glad Attaining joy, and be not over-sad Encountering grief, but, stayed on Brahma, still Constant let each abide! The sage whose soul Holds off from outer contacts, in himself Finds bliss; to Brahma joined by piety, His spirit tastes eternal peace. The joys Springing from sense-life are but quickening wombs Which breed sure griefs: those joys begin and end! The wise mind takes no pleasure, Kunti's Son! In such as those! But if a man shall learn, Even while he lives and bears his body's chain, To master lust and anger, he is blest! He is the Yukta; he hath happiness, Contentment, light, within: his life is merged In Brahma's life; he doth Nirvana touch! Thus go the Rishis unto rest, who dwell With sins effaced, with doubts at end, with hearts Governed and calm. Glad in all good they live, Nigh to the peace of God; and all those live Who pass their days exempt from greed and wrath, Subduing self and senses, knowing the Soul!

The world is overcome, yes, even here, By those who place their faith in Unity. The sinless Brahma dwells in Unity, And they dwell in Brahma. Do not be too joyful When joy comes, or too sorrowful When grief comes. Instead, remain rooted in Brahma, Steady and constant. The sage whose soul Withdraws from contact with the outer world finds Bliss within. Joined to Brahma through devotion, His spirit knows eternal peace. The pleasures That come from the senses are sources Of certain grief. Those pleasures begin and end! The wise take no delight, Kunti's Son, In pleasures like these! But if a man learns, While still alive and bound to his body, To master lust and anger, he is blessed! He is the Yukta. He finds happiness, Contentment, and light within. His life merges With Brahma's life. He reaches Nirvana! So the Rishis find rest. They live With sins erased, doubts ended, and hearts Controlled and calm. They delight in all that is good, Close to God's peace. So do all those Who live free from greed and anger, Controlling themselves and their senses, knowing the Soul!

The Saint who shuts outside his placid soul All touch of sense, letting no contact through; Whose quiet eyes gaze straight from fixed brows, Whose outward breath and inward breath are drawn Equal and slow through nostrils still and close; That one-with organs, heart, and mind constrained, Bent on deliverance, having put away Passion, and fear, and rage;--hath, even now, Obtained deliverance, ever and ever freed. Yea! for he knows Me Who am He that heeds The sacrifice and worship, God revealed; And He who heeds not, being Lord of Worlds, Lover of all that lives, God unrevealed, Wherein who will shall find surety and shield!

The saint shuts out from his peaceful soul All sensory contact, letting none enter. His calm eyes look straight ahead beneath steady brows. He breathes out and breathes in Slowly and evenly through his still, narrow nostrils. With his senses, heart, and mind controlled, He seeks freedom, having let go of Passion, fear, and anger. Even now, He has gained freedom and is forever free. Yes, for he knows me as the one who receives Sacrifice and worship, God revealed. And as the one who pays no heed, the Lord of Worlds, The lover of all that lives, God unrevealed, In whom all who wish may find safety and protection!

HERE ENDS CHAPTER V. OF THE BHAGAVAD-GITA, Entitled "Karmasanyasayog," Or "The Book of Religion by Renouncing Fruit of Works."

Here ends Chapter V of the Bhagavad-Gita, Titled "Karmasanyasayog," Or "The Book of Religion Through Renouncing the Rewards of Action."